AS PREPARED
Remarks by Ambassador Bond
Launch of INL School Violence Intervention Project
Government Plaza Auditorium, Richmond Street, Port of Spain
Friday, June 30, 2023
10:00 am
GOOD MORNING. I AM VERY HAPPY TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THE LAUNCH OF THE AIM HIGH PROJECT. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE. WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO MEET AND ENGAGE WITH THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, DR. NYAN GADBSY-DOLLY, AND ALL HER STAFF AT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THEY HAVE GIVEN TO THIS PROJECT. SPECIAL THANKS ALSO TO MTIMA SOLWAZI, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE ROOTS FOUNDATION, FOR HIS VISION AND WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.
FRIENDS, LIKE THE GREAT MIGHTY SPARROW SANG IN A FAMOUS CALYPSO IN 1973, “SCHOOL DAYS ARE HAPPY DAYS.” HOWEVER, WE HAVE SEEN INCREASED CASES OF BULLYING, CYBERBULLYING, VIOLENCE, AND IN SOME INSTANCES CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WITHIN SCHOOLS SINCE WE RETURNED TO IN-PERSON SCHOOL FOLLOWING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. FOR MANY STUDENTS, SCHOOL DAYS ARE NO LONGER HAPPY DAYS AT ALL. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE ROOTS FOUNDATION TO LAUNCH THIS IMPORTANT AND TIMELY PROJECT TO HELP ADDRESS MANY OF THESE CHALLENGES.
THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF STUDENTS ENGAGING IN VIOLENCE IN A SCHOOL SETTING OR ON THE WAY TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THE SECONDARY GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE SELF-ESTEEM AND GOAL SETTING ABILITY OF STUDENTS, WHICH SHOULD POSITIVELY IMPACT FOCUS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. THIS WILL BE DONE THROUGH ADDRESSING PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES, SUCH AS FAMILY AND PERSONAL TRAUMA, SELF- ESTEEM, AND HOPELESSNESS. THIS PROJECT ALSO PROVIDES VALUES BASED, GOAL-SETTING AND OTHER LIFE AND SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING, ALONG WITH INVOLVEMENT IN EXTRA- CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EAST MUCURAPO AND WEST MUCURAPO SECONDARY, AS WELL AS ARANGUEZ AND SAN JUAN NORTH SECONDARY SCHOOLS. I PERSONALLY AM LOOKING FORWARD TO VISITING YOUR SCHOOLS DURING THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.
THE UNITED STATES IS COMMITTED TO ENGAGING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND OFFERING THEM OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. WE PROVIDE A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH VARIOUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS, AND EXCHANGES. WE ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. AS SUCH, WE SEEK TO ENGAGE ALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS TO OUR PROGRAMS AND ARE IMPACTED BY THE GENEROSITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THE UNITED STATES IS THE CARIBBEAN’S BEST AND MOST TRUSTED PARTNER AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR TRINBAGONIAN PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO ALL OF US. WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE ARE NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS LAUNCH CEREMONY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT THE MEANINGFUL IMPACT THIS PROGRAM WILL HAVE IN YOUR SCHOOLS AND I WILL SEE ALL OF YOU VERY SOON.
THANK YOU AND I WISH ALL OF THE STUDENTS A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE SUMMER VACATION.